94 PAPERS, ETC. 
there existed an apartment of importance over these oflices 
in the 13th century can hardly be doubted, from the size 
and beauty of the arch leading to the refectory staircase ; 
yet, whatever it was, it must have been a much lower 
building than the present one, the end of which blocks up 
some of the windows of the dormitory, against which it has 
been built, while marks on the outside of one of the walls 
to the south seem to indicate that the buildings which once 
stood there were considerably lower than those at present 
remaining. From the doorway we ascend by a broad flight 
of stone steps to a landing-place, lighted by a Perpendicular 
window, divided by a transom, on the left side of which is 
a stone bench, while the other side is occupied by the door 
of the buttery ; on the left side of this landing a door 
(having its arch, which is low, and its jambs ornamented 
with rather poor mouldings of late Perpendieular cha- 
racter), admits us to the great refecetory, which is certainly 
a most beautiful hall, and remains in a more perfeet state 
than almost any room of equal antiquity that I have ever 
seen. This magnificent room, which is ölft. in length 
by 22ft. in breadth, and still retains its exquisite carved » 
roof, supported by angel corbels, is liıghted on the north 
side by five large Perpendicular windows of three lights, 
and on the south by four, the space of the second being 
oceupied by the fire-place and reader’s pulpit, the situ- 
ation of which may still be traced on the wall on the 
east side of the fire-place. These four windows differ froın 
those on the north side, being divided by transoms, but as 
those on the north have evilently been repaired and other- 
wise tampered with, it is probable that the difference did 
not originally exist. In the left corner of the western end 
of the hall is a small arched doorway, connected with the 
buttery and staircase leading to the cellar, by an oak pas- 
En 
